EATING ETHNIC
Kate Mazzarella-Minshall
From fajitas to frittatas,
American’s are having a love affair with all foods exotic. Ethnic food is a veritable culinary kaleidoscope of
delectable dishes that rouses the senses and excites the palate. One of the most interesting and enjoyable
ways to experience culinary ethnicity is through the foods indigenous to that
culture. In a world filled with ethnically diverse restaurants, diners are
eating out more frequently than ever before.
They have become more sophisticated, adventurous and
savvy realizing that instead of an ordinary meal, they can find a distinct
dining and palate-pleasing experience by eating ethnic.
Ethnic
restaurants have crossed neighborhood boundaries. Nowadays you can find more than one ethnic
eatery located within a multicultural community, and restaurateurs, who are
committed to their patrons, are adding ethnic dishes to their existing
menus. Even retailers are giving in to the
high consumer demand for ethnic foods; more space is being provided for international spices, ethnic beverages and convenient, chef-inspired
fresh and frozen foods.
While ethnic food is enjoying a surge in
popularity, it
is no longer considered a special treat or an acquired taste. This foreign fare of rich, intense flavors
and exotic aromas has found its niche among American cuisine. Even though Italian, Asian and Mexican foods
have become part of our American culture, they are still considered the most
popular “ethnic” foods in America. I
spoke with Brian Rolfe, Special Event Sales Manager
for TAO Asian Bistro and Nightclub inside the Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino
in Las Vegas. “I think Asian food is
still so popular because people love the social nature of a “family style
meal”. It can turn a regular “dinner out” into a shared experience of
taste, sight and smell that stimulates not only the appetite, but the
conversation too”.
According to Steven C. Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Restaurant Association, “Consumers are finding and trying more and more cuisine options that ever. The traditional ethnic cuisines Americans have been eating for years, while still popular are not the only show in town.” We Americans are attracted to foods with flair and driven by taste and our taste buds have been tantalized with the unique and the unusual. Mediterranean food is at the forefront of the increased consumer demand for healthy, authentic and flavorful foods. “I believe Mediterranean food is gaining in popularity because people’s taste will continue to move toward the exotic”, said Rolfe. “As things like Sushi and Chinese and Italian foods continue to become more main stream, people will start looking to try the newest thing”.
The
ethnic food craze is generating billions of dollars each year in the U.S and
this trend is unlikely to diminish any time soon. Eating ethnic is for anyone looking to
experiment with exotic foods filled with big bold flavors, a variety of
different textures and prepared with traditional spices, fresh herbs and
authentic ingredients. As Americans move
toward healthier eating and become more familiar with ethnic foods from
increased foreign travel, immigrant influx, the cooking shows and celebrity
chefs introducing us to recipes from around the world, and our own curiosity
and food experimenting, these eclectic combination of foods will continue to
influence our cuisine and transform our culinary landscape from typical,
predictable and ordinary to extraordinary.
Kate Mazzarella-Minshall, Director of
Events, Harley-Davidson Cafe, 3725 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas,
NV 89109, (702) 743-4058, KateMinshall@aol.com,
www.Harley-Davidsoncafe.com